Texas groundwater depletion is creating fragmented green fields visible from space, as farmers irrigate less due to drought.
Groundwater decline in Texas
In Texas, groundwater levels are dropping rapidly, leading to visible changes in agricultural patterns detectable from space. This decline has caused the usual green irrigation circles to become incomplete or disappear entirely.Irrigation practices change
Many farmers now irrigate only half or a third of their fields due to the groundwater shortage. Scientists from NASA highlighted this issue on October 8, 2026, through images showing how the drought has erased irrigated fields in Texas.Visual changes in agricultural fields
Two images of the same county, taken one year apart and at the same season, clearly show the retreat of irrigated areas. Over twelve months, the decline in green fields has been rare in this cotton region, with irrigation arcs now appearing only partially.Technology detects irrigation changes
The OLI sensor on Landsat 8 distinguishes these changes clearly. The images compared were taken on September 22, 2025, and September 9, 2026, showing a transformation from green fields to a mosaic of brown and dried-up lakes.Historical context of cotton farming
Farmers had already abandoned 72% of their non-irrigated cotton in 2022 and 66% in 2011. The High Plains aquifer, a primary water source, has lost up to thirty meters since 1950 due to extensive pumping by farmers.Groundwater level drops
Under parts of Lubbock county, the water level has dropped from 7.6 to 30 meters. In nearby counties, the drop reaches or exceeds 45 meters, leading to some irrigation wells now pumping air instead of water.Impact on cotton farmers
Lacy Cotter-Vardeman, a cotton grower from Lubbock county, saw her irrigation stop in August. About 90% of her non-irrigated cotton is dead, an unprecedented situation according to her insurers.Playas and their decline
The aquifer is partially recharged by playas, temporary ponds that retain rainwater. However, plowing and sedimentation have filled or altered nearly 80% of these basins, reducing their effectiveness. Most of these basins were dry in September 2026, unlike the previous year.Rainfall insufficient to reverse drought
September and October rains, driven by a strong El Niño, were not enough to fill the basins. According to meteorologist Jonathan Case, about 18 centimeters of rain over three months would be needed to escape the drought.NASA and university research
NASA teams have visited farms in August to provide data for farmers to make planting and irrigation decisions. A team from Texas Tech University has studied playas for thirty years, noting a marked decline in 15 of the 45 counties studied since 1995.
